Herpetology - Bonn

Amphibians & Reptiles

The Herpetology Section specialises in amphibians and reptiles from all over the world, but mainly from Europe, Africa, South America, the Middle East and South-East Asia.

Research focuses on taxonomy, diversity, auto-/synoecology, macro-ecology, species conservation, biogeography, species distribution modelling, evolution and phylogenetics.

The constantly growing scientific collection, which currently comprises > 110,000 specimens, is curated by PD Dr Dennis Rödder and Dr Claudia Koch.

Both curators are involved in university teaching and offer seminars, block modules, and excursions for the BSc Biology and OEP MSc degree programmes at the University of Bonn. Final theses (Bachelor/Master) and PhD theses are also supervised.

Innovative methods in morphology, taxonomy, and systematics

Every year, several hundred new amphibian and reptile species are described worldwide. The LIB makes an important contribution to this; since its foundation, type material of more than 700 taxa has been deposited in our section, including over 350 primary types (i.e. holo-, lecto-, and neotypes) and almost 100 syntypes. To identify new species, we use state-of-the-art molecular biology techniques (genetics, genomics, phylogenetics) as well as computer-aided imaging techniques such as µCT-based 3D reconstructions.

Computer-aided analyses in biogeography, evolutionary ecology, and conservation research

We investigate the effects of climate and land-use changes on different time scales, from currently observable distribution shifts and rather short-term distribution dynamics of (invasive) species (several years to decades) to evolutionary adaptations during speciation (several million years). Amphibians and reptiles are particularly suitable for this purpose, as they are highly dependent on environmental factors. Special attention has always been paid to the search for causal ecological mechanisms that determine distribution and abundance patterns in relation to environmental factors. We use the knowledge gained to make forecasts for the future and to become involved in international nature conservation.

Teaching programmes

Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
Supervision of project work and theses

Bachelor Biology OEP Biology Master PhD programme

OEP-A23 Advanced Bioinformatics in Phylogenetics, Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity research:
- Introduction to Scientific Programming in R (seminar/exercise)
- Introduction to GIS / species distribution modelling (seminar/exercise)
OEP-B30 Advanced Course in Combining Field and Lab Techniques and Methods in Organismic Biology, Evolutionary Biology or Paleobiology
OEP-C02 / WBIO-F-02: Zoogeography and ecology of marine organisms in tropical habitats (with an excursion to the Red Sea, Dahab/Egypt) (Seminar/Excursion)
OEP-C07 Biodiversity of the Tropics, with a Field Trip to Ecuador (Seminar/Excursion)
OEP-B16 Evolution, and Biodiversity of Lower Vertebrates (block course)
OEP-B19 Patterns and Processes Shaping Biodiversity (Seminar)
WBIO-E-01 Free practical courses for BSc Biology

Related collections

Herpetological Collection, Museum Koenig Bonn

Dr. Claudia Koch

Curator Herpetology
Radiation Protection Officer

Phone: +49 228 9122 234
E-Mail: c.koch@leibniz-lib.de

PD Dr. Dennis Rödder

Head of Section Herpetology

Phone: +49 228 9122 252
E-Mail: d.roedder@leibniz-lib.de

["English"] WCH10 — International networking: Members of Herpetology Bonn at the 10th World Congress of Herpetology in Borneo

["English"] Digitales Museum — We use big data and analyze evolutionary and biogeographical patterns

["English"] Polychrus peruvianus — Peruvian Bush Anole (Polychrus peruvianus)

["English"] Epictia antoniogarciai — The blind snake species Epictia antoniogarciai was discovered in 2015 in Cajamarca, Peru by researchers from the Museum Koenig

["English"] Liotyphlops beui — µCT scan of the head of a blind snake (Liotyphlops beui)

Projects

All projects

Angel Shark Project
Management: Eva Meyers
Macroecology and biogeography: effects of changing climates on biodiversity
Management: PD Dr. Dennis Rödder
Mapping the Decline: Elucidate the Diversity of Threatened Brazilian Amphibians
Management: PD Dr. Dennis Rödder
DD-GAP: Evaluation of knowlege gaps for developing One Plan Approach strategies and solutions
Management: PD Dr. Dennis Rödder
Evolution of the gecko's adhesive toes
Management: PD Dr. Dennis Rödder
Provenance research at the Museum Koenig
Management: Dr. André Koch

Publications

Complete list of publications since 2011

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2026

2026/04
Assou, D., GNIMASSOUN, J.B.G., AHOEDO, K., AKOETEY, C.Y.M., DENDI, D., AULIYA, M., D'Cruze, N.C., KETOH, G.K.K., SEGNIAGBETO, G.H., LUISELLI, L., MORITZ, T.
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Trends in catch and effort in Western African coastal lagoon system fisheries and their socio-economic implications
Environmental Research Communications
2026/04
Aßmann, O., Böhme, W.
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Beobachtungen zum Droh-und Abwehrverhalten der Äskulapnatter
Feldherpetologisches Magazin, 23
2026/04
Ingenbrand, E., Thiesmeier, B., Böhme, W.
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Postmortale Blaufärbung bei Waldeidechsen mit Anmerkungen zu Farbabweichungenlebender Wald-und Zauneidechsen
Feldherpetologisches Magazin, 23
2026/04
Schmied, H., Böhme, W.
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Abfolge passiver Abwehrmechanismen einer juvenilen Barren-Ringelnatter –Bemerkungen zur Evolution der Thanatose bei westpaläarktischen Wassernattern
Feldherpetologisches Magazin, 23
2026/04
KAISER, H., KAISER, C.M., NISHIKAWA, K.
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Bufo praetextatus Boie, 1826 is a nomen dubium: an historical analysis of its original description supports the prevailing usage of Bufo japonicus Temminck & Schlegel, 1838
Zootaxa, 2, 5792
2026/03
Böhme, W.
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Nachruf auf ein DGHT-Urgestein: Dietmar Kiehlmann (1939 – 2026)
elaphe, 2, 2026
2026/03
Böhme, W.
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Das „ammodytes-Problem“
elaphe, 2, 2026
2026/03
Böhme, W.
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Ehrung für Wolfgang Bischoff
Sekretär, 1, 26
2026/03
Böhme, W., Jacobs, H.J.
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Heinrich Kuhls erste, aber unpubliziert gebliebene Beschreibung der Madeira-Eidechse, Teira dugesii (Milne-Edwards, 1829)
Sekretär, 1, 26
2026/03
Parmar, D., Kaiser, H.
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Hanging in the balance: an ecological and conservation assessment reveals growing threats to the Bamboo Pitviper, Trimeresurus (Craspedocephalus) gramineus (Shaw, 1802), in the Dangs Forest of Gujarat, India.
Discover Ecology, 2
2026/03
Abdulhakeem, M.A., Almalki, A.M., Kaiser, H., Shohdi, W.M.
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A frog-eat-frog novelty: first record of “reverse age-class cannibalism” in the Arabian Toad, Sclerophrys arabica (Heyden, 1827), from King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Royal Natural Reserve, Saudi Arabia
Herpetology Notes, 19
2026/02
Halpern, B., Briggs, L., Coaglniceanu, D., Crnobrnja-Isailovic, J., Kirschey, T., Nüsken, U., Boboljsaj, K., Rödder, D., von Doorn, L., Vörös, J., Denoel, M.
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Danube Dragon Action Plan. Action Plan for the Danube Crested Newt (Triturus dobrogicus). Societas Europaea Herpetologica (SEH), Bonn, Germany. 22 pp.
2026/02
Hofmann, S., Rödder, D., Schmidt, J., Flecks, M., Jablonski, D., Dubois, A., Ohler, A., Baniya, C.B., Vershinin, V., Litvinchuk, S.N., Dufresnes, C.
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Diversification and historical biogeography of the Himalayan toad (Duttaphrynus himalayanus)
Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology, 113473, 683
2026/01
Dhakal, B.K., Subedi, N., Lamichhane, B.R., Kandel, S., Baral, S., Bista, M., Silwal, T.
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Human-Wildlife Coexistence in Nepal: Evolution of Relief Policies and Practices
Banko Janakari, 1, 36
2026/01
van den Burg, M.P., Kaiser, H.
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The Case of the Missing Green Iguana Predators: Reviews of Ecological Literature Should Go Beyond Google Scholar
Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America
2026/01
Parmar, D.S., Rödder, D., Singh, A., Gupta, R., Kaiser, H.
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Snakes on Trains: Railways May Sway Goa's King Cobra Distribution
Biotropica, 1, 58
2026/01
Brito, J., Vargas, R., Tinoco, N., García, R., Carrión-Olmedo, J.C., Koch, C., Wistuba, R., Nivelo-Villavicencio, C., Pardiñas, U.F.J.
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Mountains of diversity: a systematic revision of the Andean rodent genus Oreoryzomys (Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae)
PeerJ, 14
2026/01
Ginal, P., Ecker, Y., Higham, T., Grismer, L.L., Wipfler, B., Rödder, D., Russell, A., Riedel, J.
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Subdigital integumentary microstructure in Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkota): do those lineages with incipiently expressed toepads exclusively exhibit adhesive setae?
Beilstein journal of nanotechnology, 17
2026/01
Parmar, D., Kaiser, H.
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Whither Dendrelaphis in western India? A critique of recent papers by Vaishnav and Ghadi (2025) and Puranik et al. (2025)
Reptiles&Amphibians, 1, 33
2026/01
Bañeras, T., Jiménez-Alvarado, D., Meyers, E.K.M., Toledo-Padilla, H., Hardisson, A., Gonzalez-Weller, D., Barker, J., Mead, L.R., Espino-Ruano, A., Castro-Alonso, A., José-Caballero, M., Gutiérrez, Á.
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Characterization of metal contaminants in the Critically Endangered angelshark (Squatina squatina): A first ecotoxicological insight
Marine Pollution Bulletin, 222

2025

2025/12
Erfani, M., Abtin, E., Mobaraki, A., Kami, H.G., Pandi, D., Stevenson, C., Ziegler, T., Rödder, D., De Silva, A., Whitaker, N., Le, M.D., Samarasinghe, D., Vasava, A., Karunarathana, S.
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Nuchal scalation patterns in Iranian Mugger crocodiles (Crocodylus palustris Lesson, 1831) point to an overlooked conservation unit.
Journal of wildlife and biodiversity, 4, 9
2025/12
Arribas, O., Böhme, W., Ineich, I., Jiang, J.
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Greetings to the IX. Meeting of the A.M.- Nikolsky Herpetological Society, devoted to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ilya Sergeyevich Darevsky, and the 300th anniversary of the Russian Academy of Sciences. – Pp. 124-127 in: Doronin, I.V., Konstantinova, J.L., Mazanayeva, L.F. & N.B. Ananyeva (eds.): IX syezd Gerpetologicheskogo obshchestva A.M. Nikolskogo pri Rossiskoy Akademii nauk (Rossiya, g. Kaluga, 7 – 12 oktobryá 2024 g.) / IX Meeting of A.M. Nikolsky Herpetological Society (Russia, Kaluga, October 7 – 12, 2025. - Sovremyennaya Gerpetologiya / Current Studies in Herpetology, 25(3/4): 121-127.
2025/12
Auliya, M., Gautam, K.B.
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2024-2025 Report of the Monitor Lizard Specialist Group. In: IUCN SSC and Secretariat. Species: Annual Report of the IUCN Species Survival Commission and Secretariat 2024-2025. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. 8 pp.
2025/12
Rösler, H., Ineich, I., Avila-Pires, T.C.S., Hoogmoed, M.S., Kaiser, H.
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Case 3798 – Gymnodactylus humeralis Guichenot, 1855 (currently Gonatodes humeralis; Reptilia, Sphaerodactylidae): proposed conservation of the specific name by suppression of Gymnodactylus timoriensis Duméril & Bibron, 1836
The Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature, 1, 82
2025/12
Horta-Lacueva, Q., Uller, T., Flecks, M., Gabelaia, M., Hipsley, C.A., Kirchner, M., Müller, J., Feiner, N.
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Neural crest cell biology shapes lizard skull evolution across evolutionary time scales
Evolution Letters

Employees

All employees

Dr. Elvis Almeida Pereira Silva
ztm Herpetology Bonn Postdoctoral researcher
E-mail: e.silva@leibniz-lib.de
Dr. Mark Auliya
ztm Herpetology Bonn Scientist
E-mail: m.auliya@leibniz-lib.de
Suraj Baral
ztm Herpetology Bonn Doctoral candidate
E-mail: s.baral@leibniz-lib.de
Ursula Bott
ztm Herpetology Bonn
Phone: +49 228 9122 249
E-mail: u.bott@leibniz-lib.de
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Böhme
ztm Herpetology Bonn Scientist, guest
Phone: +49 228 9122 250
E-mail: w.boehme@leibniz-lib.de
Michele Chiacchio
ztm Herpetology Bonn Doctoral candidate
E-mail: m.chiacchio@leibniz-lib.de
Dipl. Biol. Morris Flecks
ztm Herpetology Bonn
Phone: +49 228 9122 254
E-mail: m.flecks@leibniz-lib.de
Dr. Rafaela França
ztm Herpetology Bonn Postdoctoral researcher
Phone: +49 228 9122 253
E-mail: r.franca@leibniz-lib.de
Dipl. Biol. Timo Hartmann
ztm Animal husbandry Herpetology Bonn Animal keeper
Phone: +49 228 9122 274
E-mail: t.hartmann@leibniz-lib.de
Jens Hoberg
ztm Herpetology Bonn Volunteer employee
E-mail: jenshoberg@gmx.de
Dr. Sylvia Hofmann
ztm Herpetology Bonn Scientist
Phone: +49 228 9122 253
E-mail: s.hofmann@leibniz-lib.de
Prof. Dr. Hinrich Kaiser
ztm Herpetology Bonn Scientist, guest
E-mail: h.kaiser@leibniz-lib.de
Prof. Dr. Christine M. Kaiser
ztm Herpetology Bonn Scientist, guest
E-mail: c.kaiser@leibniz-lib.de
Dr. Claudia Koch
ztm Herpetology Bonn Scientist
Phone: +49 228 9122 234
E-mail: c.koch@leibniz-lib.de
Paul Kornacker
ztm Herpetology Bonn Volunteer employee
E-mail: p.kornacker@leibniz-lib.de
Yasemin Kukla
ztm Herpetology Bonn Doctoral candidate
E-mail: y.kukla@leibniz-lib.de
Dr. Markus Lambertz
ztm Herpetology Bonn Postdoctoral researcher
E-mail: m.lambertz@leibniz-lib.de
Prof. Dr. Angele Martins
ztm Herpetology Bonn Postdoctoral researcher
E-mail: angelemartins@gmail.com
Eva Meyers
ztm Herpetology Bonn Doctoral candidate
E-mail: e.meyers@leibniz-lib.de
Dikansh S. Parmar
ztm Herpetology Bonn Doctoral candidate
E-mail: d.parmar@leibniz-lib.de
Inna Rech
ztm Animal husbandry Herpetology Bonn Doctoral candidate
Phone: +49 228 9122 253
E-mail: i.rech@leibniz-lib.de
Dr. Jendrian Riedel
ztm Herpetology Bonn Postdoctoral researcher
E-mail: j.riedel@leibniz-lib.de
PD Dr. Dennis Rödder
ztm Herpetology Bonn Scientist
Phone: +49 228 9122 252
E-mail: d.roedder@leibniz-lib.de
Prof. Dr. Mirco Solé
ztm Herpetology Bonn Scientist, guest
E-mail: mksole@uesc.br